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Voting 4-2 with one council member absent, the Redwood City Council on Monday, October 13, 2025, acted in favor of adding three new provisions to the Anti-Displacement Program. Both SAMCAR and the California Apartment Association (CAA) argued against the ordinance, which now includes up to four months of relocation assistance (dismissing state law's one month requirement), expands the property eligibility assistance from five units to two units or more (going after small mom and pop housing providers), minimum lease terms, and providing tenants with the right to return after a substantial remodel at the federal Fair Market Rate (not at previous rent).

On August 25, 2025, the City Council in Foster City decided not to pursue a ballot measure in November 2026 to become a charter city, impose a residential property transfer tax, and commercial vacancy tax. Realtors, homeowners, and commercial property owners in Foster City faced the possibility that the council, by changing the city charter, would gain greater taxing authority to impose the taxes on future home sales and empty commercial properties. Your voices were heard and thanks to SAMCAR's local advocacy efforts Realtors, homeowners, and commercial property owners in Foster City and can now breathe a sigh of relief that they will not have to pay these added taxes.

The City of San Mateo City Council unanimously passed an emergency rental assistance program at its Monday, July 28 meeting. The call for such a program came from recent community outreach and engagement meetings that the city conducted, study session testimony, and input from SAMCAR and the California Apartment Association (CAA).

On Wednesday, April 30, your voices were heard loud and clear -- and the impact was immediate. Thanks to the powerful presence of more than 2,200 REALTORS® at the State Capitol, two of the most concerning bills we opposed were pulled from consideration before the day was even over. Read more about these bills and SAMCAR's participation at Legislative Day.

In the latest episode, Fernando Peña, Government Affairs Director (GAD) for the San Mateo County Association of Realtors, discusses recent examples of member mobilization positively affecting SAMCAR's legislative agenda.

On Wednesday, April 5, 2023, SAMCAR members Sue Walsh (FPC Coordinator), Paul Beaudreau, Judy Taylor, Frank Vella, Jerome Madigan, and SAMCAR Government Affairs Director Fernando Peña met with Congressmember Kevin Mullin to discuss research/data, fair housing, inventory, supply, and affordable housing. The purpose of the meeting was to reinforce National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) priorities, provide the Congressmember with a new resource team, and for members of SAMCAR to weigh in locally on important topics impacting the real estate industry at the local, state, and federal levels. (Read more for an overview of the REALTOR® Priorities discussed).